Nintendo Wii as Therapy and Fun for Multiple Sclerosis

At first blush, you may think that the title of this article is a far stretch!  You may be wondering how a video game console could possibly do ANYTHING useful for a disease such as MS.  If you give me a chance, I will share my own experience.   I'll also let you know that I am NOT a video game junkie.  I'm not very good at figuring out the remotes and buttons and all that.  This gaming system is different.  I feel that most anyone can do it.  It was created with that in mind, to allow everyone to play.  Play is good!

The objective of this article will be to look at the Nintendo Wii gaming system and it's utility for fostering and enhancing movement, flexibility, balance, and cognition (memory, multi-tasking, etc.)

Although this lens mentions MS (because that is my own personal experience and journey) there are probably many other health conditions that could benefit from the same things.

I need to mention that I am NOT a physical or occupational therapist and I am NOT trained in rehab or physical medicine.  This is simply my own personal experience and observation.  If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your doctor. 

Enjoy and have fun!

The Wii (pronounced as the pronoun "we") is the fifth home video game console released by Nintendo.

A distinguishing feature of the gaming console is it's wireless controller, the Wii Remote or "Wii-mote", which can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect motion and rotation in three different planes. Another is WiiConnect24, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode.

The console was known by the code name of "Revolution" until April 27, 2006, immediately prior to E3.  According to the Nintendo Style Guide, the name "is simply Wii, not Nintendo Wii." This means it is the first home console Nintendo has marketed outside of Japan without the company name featured in its trademark.

Wii sounds like 'we', which emphasizes that the gaming system is meant for everyone. The name Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. Quite simply, "Wii".

Using Wii Sports for Movement and Exercise 

Who knew that exercising could be so much fun? Once you buy a Wii Gaming system, it comes packaged with Sports which is enough to get you started and getting the hang of things.

While I would never purport that the Wii gaming system could be traded for a Total Gym, Treadmill or Elliptical ... I could purport that with the right combination of games and understanding (and guidance), a regimen could be developed that could offer movement and exercise to both arms and legs.

The Nintendo Wii comes pre-packaged with the game Sports. Sports is really 5 games in 1:

1. Golf
2. Boxing
3. Baseball
4. Tennis
5. Bowling

If you can get over the "anime" type of animation and characters -- you'll do fine. The images are bright and differentiated by both color and pattern (this will accommodate someone with optic nerve damage who might have some problems with colors). The characters are easily distinguishable by patterns such as stripes versus solids.

What I love so much about Wii Sports is that it offers something called a "Fitness Test". This fitness test can be performed at different times (no more than once a day). The test uses an algorithm to look at all levels of play from coordination, speed and accuracy. During the course of a "Fitness Test" you will be given tasks from the various sports (this could be boxing, bowling and golf). Once completed, an "age" is applied to you (20 years being the youngest). Over time, you can take the fitness test and watch your results. Have you grown younger or older???? Really a nice part of the game.

The movements used by players playing Wii Sports (tennis for example) do not have to be perfect and could be performed from a sitting position with some practice. In my opinion, the value of exercise and movement is better accomplished when the Sports are played in as realistic a manner as possible. That said, I am not a doctor or physical therapist -- so this should be discussed with them to find the optimal type play for you.

Wii Sports represents only one facet of play.  There are other great games in the Wii repetoire that exercise both mind and body.   To learn more about the topic and see other games, please visit my Squidoo Lens http://www.squidoo.com/wii_ms  

Diana de Avila is a Squidoo Lensmaster and a woman with MS.